Name:
Ephedra torreyana Shrubland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
The vegetation is characterized by an open canopy of <i>Ephedra torreyana</i> shrubs. Stands range from less than <10 to 75% total vegetation cover and range in structure from shrub-herbaceous (steppe) to shrublands. Vegetation composition is dominated or codominated by <i>Ephedra torreyana</i> that ranges between 2 and 25% cover. Associated shrubs and cacti include <i>Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Echinocereus triglochidiatus, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia polyacantha</i>, and <i>Yucca harrimaniae</i>. <i>Coleogyne ramosissima</i> is absent or has low cover. If present, the understory may include a sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer composed mostly of dry grasses, such as <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii, Sporobolus airoides</i>, and <i>Sporobolus flexuosus</i>, with low cover of forbs. This alliance includes semi-desert shrublands from the Colorado Plateau region of eastern Utah and northern Arizona between 1220 and 2000 m elevation. Stands occur in large patches on broad sandy plains, as well as in smaller patches on knolls, toeslope pediments, and a mesa capped with basalt boulders. Sites are flat to gentle (up to 10% slope) and occur on all aspects, although it often is found on warmer south- or west-facing slopes. The unvegetated surface has up to 90% exposure of sand, bare soil, cinder, large and small rocks or gravel. Litter cover is generally low. Soils are rapidly drained to well-drained loamy sands to sandy clays derived from basalt, cinder, sandstone or shales.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38364-{46388B6E-791F-4799-8304-5A2E592F4C9E}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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